The Tiller surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 7,954 people carried this name — #4,463 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 37,000 people counted. That is up 9% from 7,299 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Tiller surname

A surname originating as an occupation.

Capitalization of tiller

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Tiller» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as an occupational name: ‘the tiller’.

His entry covers Tillyer and Tiller.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 752 · public domain.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 28 people named Tiller.

4 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 7 départements, most often Ain.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 4
Ain 10
Saône-et-Loire 4
Pas-de-Calais 3
Ardèche 2
Drôme 2
Loire 2
Allier 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

25 people named Tiller live in Switzerland.

They live in 4 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Zurich 11
Aargau 6
Lucerne 5
Bern 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In the Nordic population registers

596 people named Tiller are counted in Norway and Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published. Norway publishes only surnames with 200 or more bearers.

Counted, by country

Norway (2025) 553
Sweden (2022) 43

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown) · Statistics Norway (SSB, ssb.no), table 12891, 2025 — CC BY 4.0.

In print

Tiller in American newspapers,
1861–1874.

Newspaper page from The Portland Daily Press carrying the name Tiller
The Portland Daily Press 1874-01-24
Newspaper page from Orleans Independent Standard carrying the name Tiller
Orleans Independent Standard 1861-09-27
Newspaper page from The Republican Journal carrying the name Tiller
The Republican Journal 1874-02-05

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 213,135 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Tiller in Australian newspapers,
1840s–1990s.

9,781 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Tiller. The most, 1,686, date from the 1920s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in South Australia, at 4.4 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

South Australia 4,834
Victoria 2,125
Western Australia 1,302
New South Wales 1,054
Queensland 335
Tasmania 106
ACT (Canberra) 15
Northern Territory 5

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Tiller.

Who carried it

People named Tiller,
with a public archive behind them.

  • J.C. Tiller 1840–1917
  • Karel Tiller 1848–1918 · teacher
  • William Tiller 1875–1942 · painter
  • William Tiller 1875–1942 · painter
  • Anton Tiller 1881–1986 · actor
  • Anton Tiller 1881–1967 · actor

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Tiller,
in the records of 9 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States543 records

543 records of the Tiller name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 275
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 99
  • Other U.S. records 169
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Dotie Tiller

    Born 1907 in Mississippi. Enlisted 1942 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri; metal worker. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 1973, buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Missouri.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Arthur Tiller

    Born 1917 in Virginia. Enlisted 1944 at Richmond; welder from Baltimore City, Maryland. U.S. Army veteran; died 1961, buried at Richmond National Cemetery, Virginia.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Pauline Tiller

    Arrived at New York in 1855 aboard the Coriolan from Bremen, aged 28; servant. From Prussia, Germany; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 543 records for Tiller in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Norway239 records

239 records of the Tiller name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Ludvig Tiller

    Census of 1910: Ravlo nordre (gaard), Værdalen; forestry worker, born 1889 in Værdalen.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Pauline Tiller

    Census of 1910: Øvre Baklandet, Trondhjem; seamstress, born 1876 in Strinden.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Marius Tiller

    Census of 1910: Tiller nordre, Værdalen; farmer, born 1868 in Værdalen.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Showing 3 of 239 records for Tiller in Norway.

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Netherlands162 records

162 records of the Tiller name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 69
  • Dutch population registers 55
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 38
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Andreas Tiller

    Married in 1918 in Utrecht. Died 1967 in Utrecht, aged 77.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Anna Tiller

    Born 1891 in Loenen. Married in 1920 in Utrecht. Died 1959 in Ermelo, aged 68.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Joseph Tiller

    Married in 1911 in Driebergen. Died 1951 in Utrecht, aged 65.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 162 records for Tiller in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Australia100 records

100 records of the Tiller name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 60
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 18
  • Other Australian records 22
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Isabella Tiller

    Arrived in Victoria in 1858 aboard the Donald McKay, aged 28; Scottish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Alfred J. Tiller

    Dairy supervisor of Preston, Victoria; died 1949.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Ann Tiller

    Died 1860 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 77.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 100 records for Tiller in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Germany94 records

94 records of the Tiller name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Otto Tiller

    From Riemertsheide, Kreis Oppeln. Reported missing in the Prussian casualty list of 22 October 1914 (Infantry Regiment No. 47).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Kurt Tiller

    From Breslau. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 22 July 1915 (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 271).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 2 of 94 records for Tiller in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Canada28 records

28 records of the Tiller name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 18
  • City of Niagara Falls (Ontario) cemetery records 3
  • Other Canadian records 7
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Joseph Tiller

    Came to Ontario in 1874 aboard the Texas, landing at Quebec, bound for Parry Sound, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Stephen Tiller

    Died 1923 in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 2 of 28 records for Tiller in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

France13 records

13 records of the Tiller name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Marie Tiller

    Born 1906 in Sanvignes-les-Mines; died 1979 in Montceau-les-Mines (Saône-et-Loire).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Philippe Emile Tiller

    Born 1968 in Valence; died 1996 in Saint-Vallier (Drôme).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Eleonore Tiller

    Born 1913 in Czechoslovakia; died 2000 in Yerres (Essonne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 13 records for Tiller in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

New Zealand9 records

9 records of the Tiller name in New Zealand
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 5
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 3
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Charles Joseph Tiller

    Died 1937, aged 78; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Charles Norman Tiller

    Buried in 1957 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 72.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 9 records for Tiller in New Zealand.

Counts: Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

United Kingdom5 records

5 records of the Tiller name in the United Kingdom War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record A. Tiller

    Lancashire Fusiliers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record T. Tiller

    Labour Corps. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Tiller in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Tiller.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Tiller is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Tiller volume
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